By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Students learned about farm equipment used to plant corn through Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Farm From School program.

Kindergarten through fifth-grade students virtually “meet” with a farmer or rancher once a month through Farm From School on a video conferencing app.

This month, Colin Chopelas, a farmer in Corpus Christi, showed students the equipment used to plant corn.

“Students across the state tuned into our first Farm From School visit of 2024 to learn about tractors, planters and combines from Colin,” said Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director Organization Division, Education Outreach. “Students asked Colin many questions about the equipment used on the farm and how corn is planted.”

During the 30-minute virtual session, Chopelas showed students three pieces of farm equipment used to plant and harvest corn. Students toured the inside of a tractor, learned about a field cultivator and how combines harvest corn.

This year, Chopelas will plant 5,000 acres of corn. He can cover about 200 acres of farmland a day with the field cultivator, planter and combine.

“Tractors and equipment have changed a lot,” Chopelas said. “It wasn’t too long ago people were planting with small tractors and planters with two to four rows at a time. But now we’re able to do 24 rows at a time.”

Chopelas highlighted the technology inside tractors and how it helps farmers grow and harvest their crops. He showed students how the tractor can drive itself by setting an AB line in the system, allowing the tractor to follow the directed line autonomously.

Students asked Chopelas many questions about the technology and what happens if something were to go wrong.

“If something were to go wrong, we can go in and make some changes at the push of a button,” he said. “Farmers build strong relationships with farm equipment dealers and seed salesmen to ask for help if issues were to arise.”

Chopelas showed students where the corn seed goes in the planter and shared with them that one box can hold 2.2 million seeds.

The seeds then trickle down a set of tubes, leading to smaller boxes that will make up the rows on planters. Through an intricately designed mechanization, the seeds are planted in the ground 15.5 inches apart.

“What’s awesome about this technology is it is so precise. Each seed will be laid exactly the same distance apart across the field,” Chopelas said. “Not many years ago, this didn’t exist, and you couldn’t do something like this. Now, we’re able to put the seed exactly where we want it, and that’s so important for increased yield, efficiency and everything we do.”

With fewer farms and more people to feed, Chopelas touched on the importance of being stewards of the land and caring for the environment.

“It’s important we really take care of the land. We want to keep the land in good shape for the next generation,” he said.

Students saw a combine and how it is used to harvest corn. Chopelas showed them how the seed from the corn cob is separated and then filled in the combine. Once the grain bin of the combine is full, the grain is transferred to a buggy that meets the combine in the field. It’s then transported to a grain elevator.

Chopelas grew up on his family’s farm and is a fifth-generation farmer. His family has been farming for 110 years, and he hopes to see it continue for another 110 years.

“Farming is tough work, but I really love what I do,” Chopelas said. “Planting a seed and watching it grow, taking care of the crop and harvesting a season’s worth of work—there’s just nothing like it.”

Spring sessions
The spring 2024 program will continue through May.

The remaining spring sessions will focus on bison, strawberries and watermelon.

More information
Sign up for the fall 2024 program will open later this summer.

Click here for more information about the Farm From School program.

Visit texasfarmbureau.org/aitc for more information and the latest announcements on TFB’s Ag in the Classroom activities.